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At our core, we exist to create a prosperous Saskatoon – one that has the best business climate in Canada. Here, we share Saskatoon’s leading news, tips, interviews and industry insight, as well as key Chamber activities and how you can get involved.

Zoom Membership Meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly

SASKATOON, SK – April 7, 2020 – As part of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing advocacy mandate of connecting government leaders with our business community, the Chamber hosted a Zoom Meeting open to all members with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.

Minister Joly discussed the federal government’s three main COVID-19 response priorities. First and foremost, dealing with the immediate health concerns and stopping the spread of COVID-19, second, expanding the social safety net in a quick manner

through the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and third, promoting economic stimulus through the new Economic Response Package.

166 chamber members participated in the call, where the Minister heard the concerns of businesses regarding gaps in the programming available and the economic impacts that our community is seeing. Minister Joly provided a clear message that the federal government has ensured that they will take on more risk and responsibility so that the banks will follow suit, “We want to take more risk onto the shoulders of the federal government to ensure that banks will take more risks for the business community,” she stated. Minister Joly encouraged the business community to work with their financial providers to access the resources currently available to ensure that the economy will rebound when the pandemic comes to an end.

“The Chamber is pleased to see the federal government working quickly to provide these much-needed resources to our business community,” said Darla Lindbjerg, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce CEO. “Many of our members have voiced concerns with the “one size fits all” approach that we have been seeing coming out of Ottawa and we are encouraged to see the government seeking feedback and willing to make the necessarily changes to the current programming.”